Lamp control circuit



Jan. 23, 1940.

1. w. EISENBERG 2,188,263

LAMP CONTROL CIRCUIT Original Filed Dec. 18, 1936 A1 a 1 I 0 n Irwin WEiefibf I HIS ATTORN Patented Jan. 23, 1940 v UNITED STATES LAMP CONTROL CIRCUIT Irwin W.. Eisenberg, Chicago, Ill., assignor by mesne assignments, to James E. Johnson, Chicago, 111.

Application December 18, 1936, Serial No. 116,522 Renewed November 30, 1939 13 Claims.

This invention relates to electridal control circuits, and more particularly to a circuit for controlling the illumination of exciter lamps used with photo-electric devices and the like.

More particularly stated, it is an object of the invention to provide a circuit for energizing a gilt for an accurately determined period of Viewed from another aspect, it is an object to provide a lightsource energized by electric power under the control of a relay, which in turn is controlled by another relay energized from a stored source of current of definite quantity.

Viewed still more specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an electrical light source for use with photo-electric devices, the source being connected through a relay with electrical energizing means, and said relay being operated by a second relay energized by the discharge of a condenser of fixed capacity, together with means in the discharge circuit of said condenser for determining the rate of discharge.

Other and more specific object of construction and operation will hereinafter appear in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective representation of an amusement target mechanism in which the novel control circuit of the present invention is incorporated as a preferred embodiment or application of the invention, and for purposes of illustration; and

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram including the novel control circuit and certain cooperating instrumentalities of the electric target apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

The invention herein is described in conjunc-' m tain operating instrumentalities to be described in conjunction with Fig. 2, is electrically connected by a cable 18 with a target structure having a target panel 20 in which are a plurality of individual light transmitting portions 22, behind which are positioned photo-electric control devices such as the photo-cell 24 shown in Fig. 2.

A detailed description of the construction and operation of such a photo-electric target apparatus may be had by reference to applicants co- 5 pending applications, Serial Nos. 105,556 and 105,557. I I

Referring conveniently between Figs. 1 and 2, the gun Ill includes an exciter lamp Ii anda trigger switch iii, the lamp ii being connected 10 by a conductor 25 to one of the normally open contacts 26 of a'control relay A, the other contact 21 of this relay being connected by a conductor 28 to the conductor 30 leading to the connection 32 of the power source. 15

The other side of the lamp is connected by a conductor 23 in series with the winding of a holding relay B to one side of a power source 33, and thus a circuit may be completed from the power source through the winding of the relay B 20 and the closed contacts 26 and 21 for the lamp 1 I.

The winding of relay A is connected by a conductor 34 to one of the normally open contacts 35 of the holding relay B, the movable or armature contact 36 of relay B being connected by 5 conductor 31 to one side of a condenser 38, the other side of this condenser being connected by a conductor to a variable contactor 42 of a resistance strip 44, and the latter being connected by conductor to the other side of the winding 80 of relay A, thus completing the circuit through the winding of relay A and the resister 42-44, and contacts 35-46 of relay B with the condenser 38, such that the condenser may discharge in this circuit and energize the relay A.

(.Joncluctor 40 of condenser 38 is connected by a conductor 4| to one side of a high voltage direct current source 43, the other side of which is connected by conductor 45 with the normal contact 39 of relay B. The condenser 38 is thus 40 normally bridged across the high voltage circuit 43 through the normally closed contacts 38-49 of relay B.

In the use of photo-electric target mechanism such as described above, it is found desir- 5 able to employ a thermionic amplifier 50, as indicated in Fig. 2, to the input side of which is connected the photo-cell 24 by conductors 24., the amplifier operating a relay R for the purpose of controllinga signal or score indicating circuit or mechanism, and as these amplifiers invariably utilize a relatively-high voltage for energizing the plate and field circuits for the tubes used therein, it is found convenient to bridge the condenser 38 across this highpotential circuit,

which is indicated at 43 and as being derived from the amplifier unit 50. The amplifier power supply may be derived in the illustrative embodiment from the same power line to which the conductors 32 and 33 are connected.

Additional control instrumentalities for the amusement apparatus include a shot counter for limiting or determining the number of shots which may be had for the deposit of a single coin in the slide l6, and this switch includes a movable contact arm 54 adapted to be moved in steps to bridge one contact 56 .and 56' of each of two banks of contacts 51 and 51.

The bank 51' is connected by a conductor 58 to one of the trigger switch contacts 60, the other contact 6| thereof being connected to the conductor 23 which is in series with the winding of relay B to the connection 33 for the main power line: The armature'mechanism of the step-up magnet 66 is operative to step the movable contact arm 54 of the shot counter each time the trigger is pulled, so as to bridge the next successive contact pairs in the banks 51 and 52".

The magnet winding 66 is connected by conductor 68 to the common contacts of bank 51 of the shot counter. The other side of the winding of step-up'magnet 66 is connected to the conductor 30 and hence to the other power line connection 32'. Thus the operation of the trigger switch l3 will energize the step-up magnet 66 until the lastcontact of the bank is reached and the trigger circuit with the power source is broken.

The operation of the apparatus illustrated in the drawing and described in conjunction with its use in an amusement device of the class described is as follows. The user deposits a coin in the coin slide l6 and actuates the same to release the mechanism by any of several well known means, for example in the present instance energizing the main power source, and thereafter he may aim the gun ill at one of the target portions 22 on the panel 20 and pull the trigger to close the contacts 606l of the trigger switch I3.

The shot counter mechanism at this stage may be assumed to have established a circuit from the contact 60 of the trigger switch via conductor 58 to the common bank of contacts 56 of the counter, through the movable contact arm 54 to a corresponding contact of the common bank 51, thence via conductor 68 to one side of the winding of the step-up magnet 66, and from the other side of this winding via conductor 30 to one side 32 of the power source, the circuit being completed from the other side 33 of this source through the winding of relay B, and via conductor 23 to the other contact 6| of the trigger switch. The eifect of closing this latter switch is to energize the magnet 66 and relay B, the movable arm 54 of the shot counter being stepped'to the next successive pair of contacts.

Meanwhile the amplifier unit being energized 'from the main source of power, delivers at the contacts 43 a high potential direct current which may be of the value of 300 volts, and which is fed into the condenser 38 via conductors 4| and 40 to one side'of the condenser, and fromthe other side thereof via conductor 31 and the'normally closed contacts 36-49 of relay B, and thence by conductor back to the high voltage source 43. The application of this voltage to condenser 38 will charge the latter proportionately to its capacity, which may desirably be of the -v alue of about/l mfd., this charge being very frapidly built up so that at the time the trigger switch I3 is pulled the condenser is completely charged.

When the circuit is thus closed by the trigger switch through the winding of relay B, its armature pulls up and the movable contact 36 of the latter breaks circuit with normal contact '39 and makes contact with the contact 35, thus establishing a circuit from one side of the condenser 38 via conductor 31, the now closed contacts 3635, conductor 34, through the winding of relay A, via conductor 45, through a selected amount of the resistance 44 and the movable resister contact 42, to the conductor 40 and back to the other side of the condenser 38. The previously stored charge in the condenser thus discharges through the variable resister and the winding of the relay A, causing the armature of the latter to pull up and close a circuit for the lamp. II from one side 32 of the power source via conductor 28, the now closed contacts 2l26, conductor 25, through the lamp ll via conductor 23, the winding of relay B and back to the other side 33 of the power source.

It will be observed that in addition to energizing the lamp ll, relay B is energized independently of the circuit through trigger switch l3, so that as long as relay A holds up relay B will likewise hold up, and the period of time during which relay A remains operated is uniformly proportional to the value of the circuit constants for the timing circuit; that is to say, for the circuit including the condenser 38, the winding of relay A, and the resistance 44.

In the circuit shown, these circuit constants include a charging pressure of 300 volts, a condenser capacity of 4 mfd., a resistance of approximately 5000 ohms in the winding of relay A, and a maximum resistance of approximately 50,000 ohms in the variable resister 44, the latter being adjustable from the maximum resistance to a lowered value so as to determine the rate, of discharge of the condenser through the relay winding.

It will be apparent, therefore, that within practical limits the period of time during which the lamp II will be illuminated by operation of the relay A, can be very accurately controlled, regardless of whether the trigger switch I3 is slowly or quickly operated,- so that the flash of light which issues from the exciter lamp II and hence in the embodiment shown from the gun I0, is definitely limited as to duration. In the example shown, it would be undesirable, for instance, to have the flash from the gun of such prolonged duration that the marksman could aim the flash, which would in reality amount to a beam, onto the target panel 20, and thus correct his aim. On

the other hand, a flash of too short duration would in many instances be ineffectual to excite the photo-cell 24.

The present invention, therefore, provides a simple and accurate means for determining the length of time during which an exciter lamp is energized and hence the duration of illumination from the lamp, and while I have specifically defined the mechanism used with the apparatus and assigned certain circuit values, it is to be understood that these are merely by way of illustration as presenting an operative device or embodiment of the invention, which may obviously be susceptible of variation and modification in various manners without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I determined period of time, said means including a condenser, a source of direct current normally in circuit with said condenser to charge the same, and switch means operable to disconnect said condenser from said direct current source oi power and connect the condenser in circuit with said second relay whereby the latter may be energized by the discharge of said condenser.

2. In a light gun for use with photo-electric target devices, a light control circuit including a light for said gun, a first source of power, a first relay in circuit with said first source of power and with a manually operable switch for energizing said first relay, asecond relay having relay contacts in circuit with said light and with said first-mentioned source of power for energizing said light when said second relay is operated, means for operatively energizing said second relay. Said means including an electrostatic energy storing device, contact means operable by said first relay for connecting said energy storing device in circuit with said second relay to operate the latter by discharge of energy from said storing device, and means including contact members of said first relay for connecting said electrostatic device to a source of charging energy when said first relay is in normal unoperated condition.

3. In a light gun, an electric light, a first source of power, a relay in circuit with said source of power and switch means included with said light gun whereby said relay may be energized, a timing relay having relay contacts in circuit with said light and said first sourceof power whereby said light may be illuminated by energizing said second relay, means for energizing the said second relay and including an electrostatic accumulator, contact means on said first relay for connecting said accumulator in circuit with said second relay to energize the same when said first relay is operated, and variable current limiting means in circuit with said accumulator and said second relay for controlling the rate of discharge of the accumulator through the relay.

4. In electric target apparatus, a light gun including an electric light, a trigger switch on said gun and means for illuminating said light a determined period of time by operation of said trigger switch, said means including a source of electric power, a relay having a winding in circuit with said source of power and said trigger switch such that the operationof the latter will operate said relay, a timing relay having a relay switch in circuit with said light and said source of power to illuminate said light when said relay switch is closed and means for operating said timing relay and closing the relay switch thereof, said means including an electrostatic condenser, contact means on said first relay normally connecting said condenser with a source of charging energy, contact means operable by said first relay when the same is operated by said trigger switch for disconnecting said charging device from said source of charging energy and connect- 1 18 said chargin device in circuit with said timing relay for operation of the relay switch thereof by discharge or said electrostatic charging device through the winding of the timing relay, and means in circuit with said electrostatic charging device for determining the rate of discharge of the same through the winding of the timing relay as aforesaid.

5. A control circuit for exciter lamps and the like, said circuit including a first source of power, a. first relay having a winding in circuit with said source of power with manually operable switching means for energizing said winding and operating said relay, a timing relay having a relay switch and a winding energizable for operating said switch, the latter being in circuit with a said exciter lamp and a source of energy therefor whereby the lamp may be illuminated when the winding of said timing relay is energized to operate said relay switch, and means for energizing the winding of said timing relay including an electrostatic condenser and a source of charging energy therefor, said first-mentioned relay having switch means for connecting said condenser to said source of charging energy whereby the condenser may be charged, said first-mentioned relay having contact means for connecting said condenser with the winding of said timing relay to permit a discharge of said condenser through the winding of the timing relay to operate the relay switch thereof when said firstmentioned relay is operated by said trigged switch so as to energize said exciter lamp.

6. A control circuit including an electrical instrumentality, a source of electrical power and means for connecting said instrumentality to said source of power, said means comprising an electrically operable switch in circuit with said instrumentality and said source of power, and operating means for said electrically operable switch including an electrostatic condenser, a. second electrically operable switch means for connecting said condenser with said first-mentionedelectrically operable switch means to operate the latter, and energize said instrumentality, and means operable by said second-mentioned electrically operable switch means for connecting said condenser with a source of charging energy.

7; In an electric shooting gallery apparatus including an electric light and a trigger switch, circuit control means for said light including a first source of power, a relay having a winding in circuit with said trigger switch, said relay may be operated by said trigger switch, a timing relay having an operating winding and a relay switch operable by energizing a said winding to connect said light with said first source or energy in circuit with the winding of said first relay whereby the latter and said light may be energized, means for energizing-the winding of said timing relay including an electrostatic energy storing device, a relay switch operable by said first relay to connect said energy storing device in circuit with the winding of said timing relay to energize the same, and means for charging said energy storingdevice and operably connectible with the same by the relay switch of said first relay when the same is in unoperated normal condition.

8. In an electric shooting gallery apparatus including an electric light and a trigger switch, circuit control means for said light including a first source of power, a relay having a winding in circuit with said trigger switch whereby said relay may be operated by said trigger switch, a

timing relay having an operating winding and a relay switch operable by energizing a said winding to connect said light with said first source of energy in circuit with the winding of said first l relay whereby the latter and saidlight may be in circuit with the winding of said timing relay and said electrostatic energy storing device for limiting the fiow of current from the latter through the winding of the timing relay.

9. In an electric" shooting gallery apparatus including an electric light and a trigger switch, circuit control means for said light including a first source of power, a relay having a winding in circuit with said trigger switch whereby said relay may be operated by said trigger switch, a timing relay having an operating winding and a relay switch operable by energizing a said winding to connect said light with said first source of energy in circuit with the winding of said first relay whereby the latter and said light may be energized, means for energizing the winding of said timing relay including an electrostatic energy storing device, a relay switch operable by said first relay to connect said energy storing device in circuit with the winding of said timing relay to energize the same, and means for charging said energy storing device and operably connectible with the same by the relay switch of said first relay when the same is in unoperated normal condition, together with variable resistance means in circuit with the winding of said timing relay and said electrostatic energy storing device for selectively determining the period of operation of said timingrelay. a

10. In a target mechanism having an electric photo-sensitive target device and electrical operating and control mechanism for said photo device and including a source of. direct current, together with an exciter lamp for said photo device and trigger switch means for said lamp, timing means including a source of electrical energy for said lamp, a relay operable to connect said lamp with said energy source, and means for operating said relay including an electrostatic ac-i cumulator and a second relay normally connecting said accumulator to said source of direct current to charge the same when said second relay is in normal or unoperated condition, said second relay having contact means operable to connect said accumulator in circuit with said first-mentioned relay and a resistance device whereby they charge in said accumulator may discharge through the winding of said first relay and said resistance device to energize said lamp as aforesaid, said second-mentioned relay being op-' erable to disconnect said accumulator from said direct current source when the same is connected in circuit with the first-mentioned relay as aforesaid, and further being actuated by said trigger switch means.

11. In a device of the class described, a lamp, a relatively unlimited source of electric energy, relay means operable to connect said lamp with said source of energy, and means energized from said source of energy for storing a relatively limited quantum of electric energy, and switch means operable to connect said limited quantum of energy with said relay means to operate the latter and effect energization of said lamp from said unlimited source for a predetermined time.

12. In a device of the class described, in combination, an electric lamp, a relatively unlimited source of electric energy, relay means operable'to connect said lamp with said source of energy, means connected with said source of energy for storing a determined quantum of electric energy therefrom, and a trigger switch and electrical means operable thereby for connecting said firstmentioned relay with said means storing the limited quantum of energy, whereby to effect energization of said lamp during the period of time necessary to dischargethe major portion of said stored energy.

13. A control circuit including an electrically operated translating device, an electrostatic energy storing device and selectively operable switch means for connecting said energy storing device to a source of direct electric potential to charge the same and thereafter to connect said energy storingdevice in circuit with said translating device to actuate the latter by discharge of stored energy, and means in circuit with said energy'storing device and translating device for regulating the rate of current flow during discharge of the energy storing device, whereby to procure actuation of the translating device for a predetermined period of time.

IRWIN W. EISENBERG. 

